Virginia Tech is welcoming the national champs to their house Labor Day Night, but the Hokies will be without their third-leading rusher from a season ago.
Shai McKenzie, who rushed for seven yards and one touchdown against Ohio State in his team's 35-21 victory at Ohio Stadium last September, was shelved for next month's rematch the school announced Friday.
McKenzie was suspended indefinitely after getting arrested in March for "contributing to a delinquency of a minor. Friday, it turned into a one-game suspension barring any mishaps. From The Roanoke Times' Andy Bitter:
The sophomore had been suspended from all team activities since March. He appeared back on the roster Friday at the start of preseason practice after meeting with athletic director Whit Babcock, head coach Frank Beamer and running backs coach Shane Beamer.
The Hokies put a disclaimer on his reinstatement: he can return to game action in Week 2 against Furman "as long as he maintains good standing and conducts himself in a manner we expect from our student-athletes," the school said in a release.
Last month, he was sentenced to 15 days of house arrest and 50 hours of community service after being found guilty on one charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor. The charge was related to having consensual sex with a child 15 years of age or older.
McKenzie had surgery to repair a torn ACL in October, but had jumped to the top of the depth chart prior to the injury. He ran for 269 yards and three touchdowns in his freshman campaign during 2014.
